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What is a Maker Faire?
Called the Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth, Maker Faires are part science fair and part county fair. Showcasing invention, creativity and resourcefulness, makers — tech enthusiasts, crafters, artists, educators, tinkerers, students and others — exhibit their work and share their knowledge and skills. Visitors to Maker Faire Milwaukee (MFMKE, for short) will find something different around every corner — makers, performers, presentations, workshops and much more.

Information contained in the tabs above will tell you about exhibiting, visiting and volunteering. Of course, there is information about sponsoring MFMKE, too. Thanks to sponsors, Maker Faire Milwaukee is a FREE admission event.

Maker Faire Milwaukee was the largest Featured Faire in the country in 2014 (our inaugural year!), behind only the Flagship Faire in San Mateo, California and World Maker Faire New York in terms of attendance. To stay on top we need you!

On the day of the event, teams will receive instructions, a work space and tools, access to a hack rack of raw materials and time to create. Then, it’s off to the Challenge course to determine the winning team.

As the event approaches, we will be introducing makers and sharing information about what you will see at Maker Faire Milwaukee right here. Join the mailing list or check back often for news about MFMKE. We hope to see you there!

Tom Gralewicz from Milwaukee Makerspace has been leading the charge to build a GIANT CLOCK for Maker Faire Milwaukee. Shane helped with the animation to explain what it will look like, and other members have pitched in with the building of the various pieces.

Below are a few in-progress shots of the progress so far...

Electronic components, including an Arduino, and a motor controller. (Tom is pretty excited about the controller and has a plan to use the for other projects in the future.)

R Rated Clothing started when I introduced my friend, and now business partner Roberto Rivera, to another friend of mine who does screen printing. Roberto has fans from all over the country that have asked for his art on clothing. After being given the idea to start his own clothing brand from my friend, Roberto looked at me and said "do you want to do this?". One week later we ordered our first batch of shirts, and R Rated Clothing was born.

What are you presenting at Maker Faire Milwaukee?

We are presenting our collection of graphic T-Shirts. Every design was drawn by R Rated's own Roberto Rivera.

Why is making important to you?

Making is important to us because it shows the raw talent that was needed to produce the product. We have a very high standard for the designs that we use on our shirts because we want people to feel like they are looking at a piece of art, not just a T-Shirt.

What was the first thing you remember making?

As a company, the first thing we created was our first line of T-Shirts. When I was little, I remember making a ton of board games, and I'm sure Roberto has plenty or stories about drawing pictures on napkins or whatever he could get his hands on.

What have you made that you are most proud of?

As a company, our most recent shirt "Beautiful Land". One of the first people that saw it called it "iconic". Hearing that one word made us want to make more, and better shirts.

Given an unlimited budget, what would you make?

If we had an unlimited budget we would create a ton of designs representing different charities across the US, create the shirts, sell them, and give the charity all of the money from sales. We have talked about this concept for a while.

I am an artist and crafter. I've been drawing and painting since I could hold a pencil and paintbrush. I am experienced in a multitude of art media. My favorite creative things to do are painting and jewelry work. I don't have a store or sell at fairs but I do have some public albums on Facebook showing things I've made and am willing to take special orders for. I am all over social media and can be found under Kathryn Hughett.

What are you presenting at Maker Faire Milwaukee?

I will be doing face painting near the Dark Arts area using UV reactive face paints.

Why is making important to you?

In order to BE I have to Make.

What was the first thing you remember making?

Mud pies at the age of two.

What have you made that you are most proud of?

So many things that I can’t possibly pick out one. I made a beautiful Star of David pendant for a friend out of copper, sterling silver, and brass. I made a card box for my nephew's wedding that looks like a bee skep. It turned out so beautifully.

Given an unlimited budget, what would you make?

My dream is to paint a wall mural in in someone’s home, something large and colorful with giant flowers.

I am a dentist in Racine, Wisconsin who used to be an electrical engineer. I am also a member of the Milwaukee Makerspace where I am most interested in 3D printing. In the past I was into audio and built electrostatic speakers, amplifiers, etc., then started restoring antique vacuum tube radios. I was always into bicycles, too, and designed and built a carbon fiber recumbent bike about 8 years ago that I still ride today.

What are you presenting at Maker Faire Milwaukee?

I will be exhibiting my self-designed and built, 2nd generation 3D printer, Son of MegaMax, and, if I manage to finish on schedule, a large volume 3D printer that prints chocolate vases. I might even bring my bicycle.

Why is making important to you?

I was born a maker. I have been making and building things since I was a little kid and can't imagine my life without some sort of project going on. Usually, shortly before I feel like a project is finished, I start thinking about the next project. No project is ever really finished, of course.

What was the first thing you remember making?

I don't recall anything specific, but I had Lincoln Logs and an Erector set when I was a kid, and then a lot of LEGO. At about 9 or 10 years old I started getting into electronics and built a lot of RadioShack P-box kits, a few Heath Kits, and a lot of projects from electronics magazines. In high school I was in a ham radio Explorer post 373 in Bay View and got licensed up to general class.

What have you made that you are most proud of?

That's a difficult question. I guess my second generation 3D printer, Son of MegaMax would be my current favorite, though my bicycle is a close second.

Given an unlimited budget, what would you make?

I think I'd like a really big telescope. Or an electron microscope. Or a 3D printer that can print buildings. Or a ....

We're pleased to have Chad Bridgewater returning to Maker Faire this year. If you aren't familiar with Chad's work, much of it has to do with re-purposing old tools into new machines. Discarded tables saws become 3D printers and laser engravers, and a drill press rescued from the trash becomes a CNC router.

Chad recently received his MFA from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and his MFA show in the spring was the first reveal of some of his machines. Chad did much of his work in the Digital Craft Research Lab at UWM and has a great appreciation for the merging of new and old processes to creating unique things.

Chad's appreciation for tools and those who work with their hands (coupled with his love of rummage sales) resulted in a "memorial" of 135 worn and neglected toolboxes interlocked together.

Chad's been keeping busy this summer, and he'll have some great new builds for Maker Faire Milwaukee. If you want a sneak peek, check out Chad's blog at chadbridgewater.blogspot.com